Conference hydra::amiga_v1

    This has been discussed a bit in the past.  Try DIR/TITLE=DOS
    or things along that line.  I made a note of 3106, but can't
    remember if that's the proper note.
    
    I do have a VAXstation 3100, but I haven't actually tried the
    procedure yet.  Essentially it's something like this...
    
    - Format the disk on the Amiga using one of the PCtools or CrossDOS
      as a 720K MS-DOS disk. (or perhaps on an MS-DOS machine)
    - Use the PCDISK tool on the VAXstation to copy the file to
      the floppy drive.  PCDISK is part of VAXPC, a PC emulator.
    - Use the PCtools or CrossDOS to then read the file off the
      floppy, to use on the Amiga.
    
    "Remember that a station wagon full of magtape has considerably
    more bandwidth than even the fastest networks."  (paraphrased
    from somewhere)
    
    ~Steve

    re: .1, the quotation
    
    The quotation I remember is ``The highest data-rate device known is a
    C-5A full of 6250-bpi mag tapes.  Of course, the load and unload time
    is fairly long.''  Today that would be a C-5A full of compact disks.
        John Sauter

    After getting some help from Stan Gifford, I'll elaborate on my
    previous explanation.  These directions are for a VS3100...
    
    - Format the disk (either Amiga or MS-DOS machine, Amiga is probably 
      safer) as a 720K MS-DOS disk.  This is very important.
    
    - Use the PCDISK tool on the VAXstation to copy the file to
      the floppy drive.  PCDISK is part of VAXPC, a PC emulator.
      
      $mcr pcdisk
       use a: dua2: 
       import dka300:[amiga.zoo]demo.zoo 
    
      It's important that the file has an MS-DOS type name.  I believe
      that's up to 8 char name, and 3 char extension.  Make sure the
      dua2: drive is not currently mounted.
    
    - Use the PCtools or CrossDOS to then read the file(s) off the
      floppy, to use on the Amiga.
    
    No more late night downloading for this happy camper! 
    
    ~Steve

    Is there any public domain software for formating MS-DOS 3.5" disks
    to 720K? I tried a 'PCPatched' PCcopy but it only formated it to 360K!
    
    /LGJ

Re: .3

>    
>    - Use the PCtools or CrossDOS to then read the file(s) off the
>      floppy, to use on the Amiga.
>    

Small question; is it possible to use the PCtools as delivered with the A500 on
the 'Extras' disk to read PC format 3.5" disks in DF0:? (I only have the one
drive at the mo, and it would be kind of nice to be able to do this).

Simon

    
>
>Small question; is it possible to use the PCtools as delivered with the A500 on
>the 'Extras' disk to read PC format 3.5" disks in DF0:? (I only have the one
>drive at the mo, and it would be kind of nice to be able to do this).
>
    
    Yes! To format 3.5" disks you need to use PCPATCH (PD) together with
    the PCtools from EXTRAS. But it will only format the disks to 360K.
    
    /LGJ

It should be pointed out that Digital has cancelled the VAXPC product.  All
work has been transfered from PSCG to the Worksystems group.  They are in turn
working on a product called SoftPC that currently runs under VMS and Ultrix
and I believe is scheduled for MIPS/Ultrix.  For further information about
the SoftPC product see the notesfile WRKSYS::WS_PC_SOLUTIONS.

- Jeff

    re: .4,.5,.6
    
    I used thePCc720 program (that came with PCPATCH) without any trouble.
    This program patches and runs the PCFormat program that comes with
    Workbench Extras (in the PCUtil folder).
    
    It formatted the disks for 720K, or so it says.  I haven't had a chance
    to try them in the VS3100 again.

    re: -1 Arg!  
    
    > I used thePCc720 program (that came with PCPATCH) without any trouble.
    
    I used the PcF720 program.  I hate line noise that throws off editing
    sessions (at 2400b)!

    Apparently I got the wrong PCpatch! I found another one with the *720
    files. I'll try again tonight...
    
    Thanks for all the help!

    
    re .10
    
    Keep in mind that none of these MSDOS file conversion thingies work on
    a one drive system because of a bug in the Kickstart Trackdisk.device.
    to to with raw reads. This can be fixed using either TDPatch12 or
    TDPatch13 (depending on the version of kickstart) that come with
    CrossDos. Read the CrossDoss docs from the Demo version on the net.
    
    I have also heard (not sure if it's true) that SetPatch 1.3.4 that came
    with the Workbench 1.3.2 update (I hope I have these versions right)
    also patches the Trackdisk problem.
    
    		Regards....   Clint
    
    

    This is one of those instances where I have to say forget the public
    domain ans spend the 30.00 for crossdos. I have used it to move
    files to a 386 clone without any problems at all. As for the vax
    if it will read 720k formated 3 1/2 floppies then you should be
    all set. The update patch for CrossDos just posted to the net should
    make this even nicer.
    								bill

The current version of CrossDOS is 3.06C.

A few notes on CrossDOS:

1.  DI0: and DF0: live together quite nicely. You needn't bother
    with the ATTACH command. Simply add MOUNT DI0: (and MOUNT DI1: 
    if you have two floppy drives) to your s:startup-sequence. Be
    sure to add the included MOUNTLIST entries to your devs:MOUNTLIST
    file.

2.  CrossDOS works on 68020 systems (unlike the PD program PCc720).

3.  Best to use CrossDOS from CLI, assigning the commands and their
    qualifiers in your s:shell-startup file.

4.  CrossDOS does not like the presence of VirusX. VirusX will keep
    checking the disk, preventing you from doing anything an MS-DOS
    disk in DI0:.

Add the MOUNTLIST entries that come with CrossDOS to your devs:MOUNTLIST
file. Reboot. Now you can do a DIR DI0: (with an MS-DOS disk) or DIR
DF0: with an Amiga disk. You can copy and edit, etc. directly on the 
MS-DOS disk using Amiga applications. This is not really described
clearly in the manual.

-Paul

    
>4.  CrossDOS does not like the presence of VirusX. VirusX will keep
>    checking the disk, preventing you from doing anything an MS-DOS
>    disk in DI0:.
    
    Is this something specific to the release version?  I know that
    I've used the demo version without disabling VirusX (but I don't
    think I've tried it with VirusX 4.0 yet...)
    
    - steve

It's not CrossDOS's fault.

    Re .13:
    
>   4.  CrossDOS does not like the presence of VirusX. VirusX will keep
>       checking the disk, preventing you from doing anything an MS-DOS
>       disk in DI0:.
    
    I haven't had the problem.  I run VirusX 4.0 and have had no trouble
    accessing DI0: via CrossDOS.

    Don't make the same mistake I did. I had a number of 3 1/2" HD floppies
    already formatted in msdross 720k format. So it seemed logical to use
    these, but on the VS3100 in PCDISK when I typed in "USE A: DUA2:" I kept
    getting errors. ie. "FATAL DRIVE ERROR" or "INVALID MEDIA FORMAT" couldn't
    work out the problem. Finally a few nights ago thought maybe PCDISK was
    being dumb and assuming that because it was a HD disk it MUST be formatted
    at 1.44MB. Tried again with some tape over HD indicator hold and it all
    works OK now.

    Chris.

    Better "Make hay while the sun shines." folks!
    Note paragraph 3.


          <<< WRKSYS::$1$DUA1:[NOTES$LIBRARY]WS_PC_SOLUTIONS.NOTE;1 >>>
                         -< Workstation/PC Solutions >-
================================================================================
Note 128.1                      Q's about PCDISK V1.0                     1 of 1
JACOB::HOUSE "Kenny - MLO5-2/B6 - DTN 223-6720"      25 lines  27-FEB-1990 08:54
                   -< writes to DD diskettes are unreliable >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    The RX23 diskette drive looks for one or two holes to decide how to set
    up its read/write parameters.  Two holes gets you HD;  one hole is DD.
    Since the characteristics of the two types of media are sufficiently
    different that the vendor thinks it's necessary to handle them
    differently, you should probably do the same:  use HD diskettes for 1.4
    Mbytes and DD diskettes for 720 Kbytes.  You can modify an HD diskette
    to look like a DD diskette by covering a hole, but it'll still have HD
    diskette characteristics.
    
    Unfortunately, the drive doesn't pass this information on to the
    controller, so software can only guess what sort of media you've
    inserted.
    
    In the future, writing to DD diskettes will not be allowed (the
    software drivers are being changed).  These diskettes will be treated
    as write protected.  This is not an arbitrary decision, since the
    magnetic flux changes written on a native DD drive cannot be reliably
    overwritten by the heads of a HD drive.  This has to do with
    differences in head geometry and write characteristics that are too
    arcane for me to mention (not to say understand).  The message I hope
    you'll carry away is "I'd better not count on being able to write DD
    diskettes on my RX23", and, more importantly, "I'll never tell a
    customer that they can do this."
    
    -- Kenny House

    OK fOLKS, I give up !!
    
    I have seen everything in this note from 360K format to 720K, from
    PCTOOLS to CROSSDOS, From PCEMULATORS to MODEM copying, from PCPATCH to
    PC720, and from High Density to Low density floppies. Give me a VAX
    anyday !!
    
    Can someone please share with a simple person what the best and safest
    method is of transferring files games etc. to an RX23 floppy so I can
    read them on my son's new Amiga A500.
    
    I have a basic system with single 3.5 inch drive and 512k of RAM, at
    present. At this rate I am going to have to expand.
    
    I have investigated the PCutils directory that comes with the "EXtras"
    diskette but have only managed to locate PCcopy and PCformat. If I try
    to format the 3.5 inch using PCformat it tell me I have no 5.25 inch
    drive and the whole system crashes.
    
    Questions:-
    
    	-  Can I format the disk on an RX23 and then read them on the
   	   Amiga ?
    
    	-  What tools are available on the network to make this process
    	   and copying on to the disks simpler, ie.. VAXPC etc. etc.
    
    Regards                                     
    
    
    Robert
    (trainee/trainee Amiga Hacker)
    
    	

    Robert,
    
    This is how I do it.
    
    FTSV files from the VAX to a VAXstation with SoftPC. Put the files in
    the shared file area, so SoftPC can use them. Then go into SoftPC and
    just do an MS-Dos copy onto your 3.5 floppy.
    
    Another way is just use Network File Transfer in PCSA on a PC!!
    
    Then at home I use either CrossDOS (free test copy PD) or the patches
    for PC-Util which allow you to read/write and format IBM disks on an
    Amiga.
    
    SO all you need is the above.
    
    How do you get the Amiga software?? 
    
    Simple, drop 2 disks in the post and send them to me, I'll copy them
    and forward them back to you.
    
    Greg Hilton @LZO
    845 2361
    Digital Leeds
    
    Ps Then you have all the fun or ARC, ZOO etc etc.
    
    

Well, it appears that DD (i.e. 720K) writes to an RX23 are no longer 
supported (as mentioned in .18).  As a result, there doesn't seem to
be any way to get files from SoftPC to the RX23 unless you format HD.  But,
CROSSDOS (or any other MS/DOS file system on the Amiga) can't
read HD floppies due to hardware limitations.  Thus, we're back to the 
original question posed by this topic--

"How do I transfer from a VAXstation to the AMIGA via diskette?"

Anyone have any ways around this?

Thanks,
Sam

    
    I keep seeing ads in the Amiga rags for Applied Engineering's High
    Density floppy for the Amiga. The ads allege that the drive can not
    only handle Amiga format 880 and 1760 KB, but also MS-Dos 1440 KB format.
    
    Retail price was listed as $189.
    
    Ed.
                                                              

    
    
    Or if you have enough space make an old root of vms ann boot it for 
    transfer .. Have you tried copying the old driver/software ?..
    
    
    
    			``- Pete-''